Automatic balancing system for rotatable article handling machines



Sept. 16, 1952 M. KAHN 2,610,523

AUTOMATIC BALANCING SYSTEM FOR ROTATABLE ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINES FiledD80. 16, 1950 2 Sl-IEETS-SI-IEET 1 78 INVENTOR.

1:0 4% KAHM Y MAMM ATTORNEY.

Sept. 16, 1952 KAHN 2,610,523

AUTOMATIC BALANCING SYSTEM FOR ROTATABLE 7 ARTICLE HANDLING MACHINESFiled Dec. 16, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I Tacfi.

Z 7 aw 06 0'04 T q' f INVENTOR. 50M KAH/V.

ATTORNEY.

portant obj ectthereof; the" provision Patented Sept, 16, 1952AUEEOMATICZBAIJANCING ager- B RED- "TAQBPE'MFTIQL A QWQ AG i lN-ESli'ieo Mi.ka lin, Brooklyn, N.

- the wetted articles; so that counterbalance matjefi'arma b du e e propr poin s ou the cylinder tofrest'ore the balance and insuresmo'othnessjofrotatiorr and; maxirnuxrrefli inextractingandejectin'gthefiuid: v It"-is we]? understood" that the 'degree of dryns o art c eslin i h e' o he" a o e nature depends upon" the xt'e'nt'of thecentrifngarforce produced .by high speed rOtatiomoiithefcyhnderso as toej'ect the liquid" fromithe articles: "How ever; articles of wetclothing; or '1inens;; fro1 nl their" very nature, are generally"unsymmetrical'ly' distributed in "the fcyli n'der', whether-"ithe'rnounteci for rotationbni a "yertical pr 'on a horizonta1'jagis, andsuch undesirableweight distribution pro-- dunes. severe vibrationsinthe. rotating cylinder, These 1 vibrations imp'oseia limit u'pon sped. of rotation and adversely"afiectfthedegree time of dryingin"'aiddition,to-"being potentially r injurious to the machine. Inpractice,therefore, most laundering establishment's have founti' itnecessary to divide a 'cyhndertinto' moral chamhere Byusirieipartitions, and b xwei hmei he articles put into each chamberirrorder 'to 'secure approximate initial balance" prior to-hi'gh' speedrotation; It is obvious" that such practice is laborious and timeconsuming and; further more; does not anticipate changes inweightdi'stribution "as the extractionof liquid proceedsito completion.Thoseestablishmentswhlch dispense. with such precautionsmust" be-alert"constantlyin the operation of their equipment to avoid excessivevibration and'conseque'nt dangento the operators thereof and to-theapparatus; I

In the forms-shown herein, -a cy1infderis providedwithperipherally-disposed pockets to whi'ch are selectively andautomatically" applied counterbalancing liquids in such amannereis-tbnefltralize the efiect-ofimproper weight distribution withinthe-cylinder.

"Accordingly, the present inyentionhas anim of mean which wi11= beautomatically operable on re J of; the cyl-inderg 'to locatethe-'bortidrr ofthe WI-'" 65 mae'r': a

A the,shaftrotataloiethreitithjih' 0d.

to direct'liouidr counterbalance material. to SE leere 'pmtsioimheieyunaer to'restoifethebalaiioe thereof-r r n th rb ieer' p ite Pres n i iqei tine? rovision or nnbalan' men-up, ineaiistmdntea ir tlon e ro a ing il- 1 i i 151% therewith; Whibli means Will berSfidfiSfM-YQ balanced conditions in the cylinder 55 nEiteTSiiEIicon'd'itfonfsi'ofi unbalance afidjsi'g'nal'lthe sit s. M r .r V

An t e ob ec oi e pre wfi n t provision of unbalance "fiik 'ub means asthe nan acter described mounted on anrenc l of the make and" rotatable;therewith 'saio'mansf 'cbnip ing: inpart an elongate rod vs a t'kfnififiaiiajf 1y ofthe cyiihder gtnugxzibratam. trireiwitfita'zi the qevero' gmnt or. sjt ate'lojf 'ii igilgallifiefifi the; cf

Still, another object of. the present in lentiorrjs" the provisionofun"5a1'anc pik riii m eafiLEmF- 1215151111 g a hollow shaftmounted on.meleynfieer' androtatableitherewith; anirbhg'ategfie thin thereof; 7fStill' another, obj ect of the, nr e s errtqinventiom the provision ofu jbaianceipick-up 1 s wle seaie iit the:

rod'.. l "s ill another objectpiithe inventionis,thegpro f this respectare the provision of particular means to reflect the site of unbalanceas a spider on the vibrating end of the rod, the arms of which spiderare in the same plane and the encircling shaft is provided withcircumferentially spaced apart contacts also in the same plane; or as aspider the arms of which are provided with longitudinally ofi-setcontacts and the encircling shaft is providedwith circumferentiallyspaced apart contacts which are also spaced apart lengthwise of theshaft; and has a plurality of circumferentially and lengthwise spacedapart contacts on the free vibrating end of rod, with a plurality ofmicro-switches or other signal devices mount ed on a fixed bracket inline with the vibrating rod.

Still another main object of the present invention is the provision ofmeans to introduce counterbalancing liquid material to a rotatingcylinder which comprises a single liquid feeding, ring in communicationwith a plurality of angularly spaced, peripheral pockets disposed aboutthe cylinder, each pocket being separately controlled to admitcounterbalance material from the ring in response to signals indicatinga point of overweight unbalance opposite thereto. Inthe drawings annexedhereto and'forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a vertical, longitudinal section through one form ofapparatus constructed according to and embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram of theelectrical circuits;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram of a modification;

"Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modified form of apparatusalso according to the present 0 invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line 55 of Figure'4; V

' Figure Sis-a diagrammatic wiring diagram of the circuits in theembodiment of Figure 4;

Figure? is a side'elevational view of a portion of the apparatusillustrating a modified unbalance pick-up means according to the presentinvention; and

Figure 8 is an end elevation along the line 88 ofFigure '7.

-The rotating cylinder [G is disposedfor rotation within a suitableenclosure or housing l2, on base or platform l4. Cylinder I0 is providedwith an opening ['8 in an end Wall ll for the introduction of thematerial to be dried thereinto, and housing [2 is provided with a'registering opening [8 and with a closure therefor in the adjacent endwall 21 for obvious reasons.

" Base or platform M has an extended portion,

provided with upwardly projectingstandards 24, 24 in which cylinder I2is supported. ,As shown herein, cylinder or drum l2'is supported ordriven at one end thereof, and is referred to generally as a rigidbearing single end supported device, which is to be distinguished from ayield-' able bearing permitting free cylinder oscillation.

The driving power for rotating cylinderor drum I2 is not shown hereinsince numerous devices maybe employed for such purpose, it beingunderstood herein that cylinder 12 is rotatable unrotatable with thecylinder, and extending 4 through aligned openings 30, 30 in thespacedapart standards 24, 24 wherein suitable antifriction bearings arelocated. Interposed between cylinder end wall 28 and shaft or trunnion2'6 is a yieldable pad or gasket 32, providing slightly resilient oryieldable support, although this may be dispensed with as may bedesirable. The engaged end of shaft or trunnion 26 is flanged outwardly,as at 34, and bolts 36, 36, passing through registering openings inflange 34, pad 32 and end wall 28, secure the shaft or trunnion to thecylinder.

Cylinder I2 is of perforate material, as sheet metal or the like, topermit expressed or extracted liquid to pass therefrom to the floor ofhousin I2 and outpast valve 33, and is arranged to receive damp or wetmaterial therewithin from which the moisture is to be extracted. Aplurality of ribs are provided on the interior face thereof, these ribsbeing formed of imperf-orate material, hollowed, with solid or enclosedrear end Walls 42, and forming pockets or chambers 40a, 40b, 490 for thereception and retention of weight counterbalance material. Pockets 40a,40b, 400 are angularly and equally spaced around the periphery of thecylinder so as to divide iteffectively into threev weight receivingportions .or chambers apart, although it is evident that four or evenmore ribs or pockets may be employed and spaced apart accordingly. 7

It is, of course, evident that pockets or chambers 400., Hill 460 may belocated on the outside, rather than the inside of the cylinder, and, ifdesired, conventional inside ribs may be used for the agitating ormaterial lifting function. Such expedient is shown in prior applicationSerial No. 673,680, and in such case the ribs may be perforated or thelike as is well known, such rib construction beingoften considered ofadvantage for washing purposes. Means are provided to feed water orother counterbalance liquid from a tank or other source as T to thepockets it, when required by a condition of unbalance via piping E2.Electrically actuated feed controls a, Mb, .440 are provided for thispurpose, the operation and control of which will be hereinafterdescribed, although each of the feed controls may be replaced byindividual and similarly controlled pumps. Assuming that the controlsare actuated as required, theliquid flows through feed pipes 46a, 46b,460 as Figure 1, or through feed pipe .48,'-as in Figure 4, to upwardlydirected jets 56a, 56b, 590 (Figure 1) or jet 52 (Figure 4) It will beobvious that, in connection with the. apparatus of Figure 1, either oneor two of such feed pipes 46 will operate at any one time in order tocorrect a condition of unbalance.

Assuming now that a control member in Figure 1 permits the liquid toflow through one of pipes 45a, 2), c, for example, pipe 46a, such liquidwill flow through jet or nozzle 513a into feed ring 52a. Feed ring 52ais arranged to feed the liquid through. a suitable pipe as 54 into oneof the pockets ML-while feed rings 52b and 520 are arranged to feed theother pockets lfib, itle respectively through other pipes 54, each -ring52a,- b, 0 having a separate pipe as 54 connected to each pocket. 7 a ry V V :Feed rings 52a, 19, c, are channel 'or U-shaped in cross-sectionand are open along their entire, annular floors so as to have an endlessinlet.

The feed rings together may form a unitary subfree and vibratableend64." Rod 60willfof course; partakeiof the movement .or vibration ofcylinder bein'g'i-understoodthatsleve' 26, rod 60 and collar 90all'frotate simultaneously.

When, for example, a point of unbalancedm tooverweight develops in thecylinder between two pockets as between pockets 40a and' lflc, thecylinder will start vibrating off-center, and'its connected rod 60 willvibrate and cause'spider Hi I toflvibrate and swing arm 12 and :contact82 1 against ring 92, thereby completing the circuit to liquid "control,44b" and causing counterweight? liquid 'materiakto flow therethroughandenter ring 52b1through' jet or nozzle 5012. In like man-:

' stantially the same manner, except that I eliminate the necessity fora direct 'electrical'con opposite the mid-point there-'- necti'on torodend 64. In this modification-spider arms I 02',- l 04 ['66 terminate inbridge contact members 1 l2", H4, 1 :6 respectively; "Insteadofstationaryconducting rings, '1' provide current fromone sideof thepowcr'line to one of a pair of spaced contacts, the other contact of thepair goingto the other side'of-the power line. Thus,

three-pairs-of spaced contacts 122, I22; I24, I2 andl26, I26 areprovided about shaft '26; and

suitably insulatedtherefrom- The vibration and shifting of the rod endwill be reflected by movement of the spider, as above described.- Thus,when rod end 64 isso-shifted as tocause bridge contact I IB-to bearagainst spaced contacts [-25, I26, thecircuit to valve 44b w-ill' becompleted to -cause the flow-ofcounterweight material to pocket 46b, theoverweight being opposite thereto. In Figures-g and 5, I haveillustrated a modification of my cylinder and valving arrangement I in acylinder having three counterweight receiving" chambers. I provide asingle counterbalance liquidmaterialreceiving ring [30 having threeoutlets-and piping 130a, 1301), i300, one to each of pockets a, 40b and400. A flow control member as 44a, 44!), 4401s disposedwithin the pipelinesbetween the ring and the pockets adjacent the entrance into eachpocket. A master valve M is included in the circuit, on one side {58ot'the power line. The individual pocket flow control members 44a, 44b,Morotate along-with cylinder lfl,-shaft-26 and'rod fill, and are con--nected by suitable wiring withins'haft 26 to the spider i0 and contacts82, 84, sflthereo'n. -When acondition of unbalance develops and acontact isLmade in response thereto as at 8A, 94,. the circuitliscompleted, see figure '6, from side 63 oi the power line, through mastervalve M through spider- 'Iii, .acrosscontacts 8 94 thence to flowcontrol member 4473 and finally to the other side 18' of the power line,energizing and'opening valve -Mao permit passage of liquid counterweight material therethrough,- into pipe as and out ithrough jetornozzle -52 into ring Bil-and,

simultaneously therewith, opening new control 7 member Mbto permitthepassage of the counter Weightmaterial into pocket 40b.

djetailhereinf diagrammatically in Figures 7 and '8, the cylinder".supporting shaft or rod 21 has disposed thereon" a plurality of buttonsor cams as I50a, 150b, 1500 which are angularly spaced about'the shaftor' 7 rod degreesapart, and also lengthwise or longitudinally oftheshaft, as shown. 'A suitably positioned bracketil52 is firmly secured tobase I4; 22 having an arm I54 "extending in parallel I relation to butspaced from shaftorrod 21. Three micro switches as 156a, 156b, 1560 aredisposed".

on arm I54 and spaced thereonto'be inalignment respectively withcontacts or cams l50a,

I50band I500. The possible electrical'wiring: and circuit arrangementsfrom the power lines to the liquid flow control members will be readilyapparent from the modification of Figures 2 andfi, I hence'are omittedfrom this'modification since same is readily understandable fromthe'fore-' going. When a condition of overweightunbal ance develops, itwill'be' reflected by vibration and shifting of the end of shaft 21 andthe tripping of the afiectedmicro switch or switches.- The arrangementof counterweight material receiving pockets, wiring and flow controlsmaybeas in Figures 1 or' Figures 5 and 6, as will be readily apparent.

The unbalance pickup of the modification of Figures 7 and 8 is disposedadjacent the free end of shaft 21, the other end being fixed to'thecylinder'lfl' for rotation therewith, thus thevari ations of vibrationbetween the standards-24, 24 or between the engaged end of shaft 21 andthe standards are reflected in physically amplified form to the pickup,although s'uch amplitude may be regulated as described by varying theresilience of the gasket'32 as in Figures -1 and 4, or by verve ing theposition of sleeve 90. r 1

It is to be understood that hcldover means may be provided in thevarious circuits to provide 'for suificientcontinuity the injection ofthe'c'oun terbalancing liquid material into the pockets. one such meansis shown in my previous application, and he'nc'e is not illustrated ordescribediin 'While I haveilldstrated and described the presentinventions as applied to cylinders rotating on a horizontalaxis,my'invention s are-equally applicable' to cylinders mouhted'forrotationon a vertical axis, and to a worker skilled in the arttl'iecl'i'a'nges necessary to convert from horizontal to vertical axisrotation will be obvious.

As noted above while cylinderswith three peripherally arrangedcounterweight receivingpockets are provided,an 'd the matter rocl'has asignal 1 means at the vibrating end thereof for each pocket, theinvention is not' to be limited to such specific number and is to berestricted only by the scopeofth'e appended claims; r Having describedmyinvention, whatI claim" and desiretofsec'ure' by Let'trsPatentis:

l. Balancing apparatus for a rotatable hollow cylinder for'hous'ingdiscrete articles to'be treated; said'apparatus comprising a'plur'alityof hollow counterweight liquid material receivingelenients arranged to'receivecounterbalance liquid from'an external source thereof, saidelements being. angularly'r-arranged around the peripheryfof saidcylinder, and difier'entially affecting the balance thereof, when saidliquid is selectively applied thereto, andF'a-feed ring rotatingconcentrically with thecylinder,said-feed ring beingrsubstan tially"channel:shaped'soias to have'an endless in let for liquid 'injectedtherein fromi said external source; and' having. .1 an outlet therefrom;,to each.

51inch? m ca ion QZEIpy; mventmnjllustratedfl 5 o1 thepounterweightreceiving figmemsm 9 l 2; Balancingapparatus for a: rotatable hollowcylinder for housing discrete articles to be treated, said apparatuscomprising a plurality of hollow counterweight liquid material receivingelements arranged to receive counterbalance liquid from anexternal'source thereof, said-elements being angularly arranged aboutthe periphery of the cylinder and differentially affecting the balancethereof 'wh'ensaid liquid 'is selectively applied thereto, and a feedring on and rotating concentrically with the cylinder, said feed ringbeing substantially channel shaped so as to have an'endless inletforliquid injected therein fromsaid ex ternal source, a separate outletfrom the ring to each counterweight receiving element, andliquidfi'ow'control means between each outlet and an associatedcounterweightreceiving element.

3'. Balancing apparatus as in claim 2', wherein the flow control meanscomprise valves normally closed to block ofi"communication between thefeed-ring and the counterweight receiving elements, said valves openingin'response to conditions'of unbalance in the rotating cylinder topermit flow of counterweight material into at least one of thecounterweight receiving elements.

4. Balancing apparatus for a rotatable hollow cylinder for housingdiscrete articles to be treated, said apparatus comprising avpluralityof weight receivin elements arranged to receive liquid counterbalancematerial from an external source thereof, said'elements beingrespectively disposed adjacent-spaced peripheral portions of said cyl--inder and differentially allecting the balance thereof whensaidliquid isselectively introduced thereinto, and an annular feed-ring rotatablyassociated with thecylinder, said feed ring being substantiallychannel-shaped so as to have an endless inlet for liquid counterbalancematerial introduced thereinto from said external source, the feed ringbeing disposed concentrically around the longitudinal axis of thecylinder, and having individual communication with each of the weightreceiving elements.

5. In an apparatus for housin discrete articles to be treated includinga hollow rotatable cylinder, balancing means therefor, said balancingmeans comprising a spaced series of weight receiving elements on saidcylinder peripherally arranged to receive liquid counterbalance materialfrom an external source thereof, a single feed ring communicating withall of said elements so as to feed liquid thereinto from said ring, saidring having an endless channel for receiving liquid injected thereinto,and a feed jet for said ring, said jet having a discharge nozzle whichis directed so that injected liquid flows into said ring.

6. Balancing means for a rotatable hollow cylinder for housing discretearticles to be treated, said balancing means comprising a control systemfor applying and receiving counterbalance weights at selected peripheralareas of said cylinder, and a pick-up in said control system fordetecting the presence and the site of overweight unbalance duringcylinder rotation, said pick-up comprising a shaft connected to andextending longitudinally from the cylinder and rotating concentricallytherewith, the unconnected end of said shaft, on development of a stateof unbalance'in the cylinder during rotation thereof, vibrating out ofaxial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder towards theside opposite the overweight in the cylinder.

'7. Balancing means for a rotatable hollow cylinder for housing discretearticles to be treated, said means comprising a control sys- 10 tem forapplying and receiving counterbalance liquid material at selectedperipheral area's of said cylindenand a pick-upin said control sy's-.

tem for detecting the presence and siteof overweight unbalance duringrotation of the 'cylinderjsaid pickup comprising an elongatedshaftsecured'by one end thereof to an end of the cylinder foraxial' rotationtherewith, means to support said shaft rotatably, the cylinder beingdisposed on one sideof the support and the other end of the shaftextending 'beyond the' support on the other side thereof, theunconnected end of the shaft being vibratable in response'to conditionsof overweight unbalance in the rotating cylinder towards the sideoppositethe'point of unbalance. i

'8.In a balancing apparatus for a "rotatable hollow cylinder, aplurality of hollow counter weight liquid material receiving chambersarranged angularly'about the periphery of'the cylinder so as todifferentiallyaffect the balance thereof when said liquid is selectivelyapplied thereto, a shaft extending from one'endf'ofj the I cylinder androtatable axially therewith, an"

' electricalpick' up device for detecting-a smear unbalance in therotatin fcylinder on the sha'ft and including a similar plurality ofcontactsar ranged angularly about the periphery of the shaft adjacentthe unconnected end thereof; the shaft end being vibratable in responseto'a con-j' dition' of overweigh't unbalance in the rotating cylinder; 1

9.' In a' balancing apparatus as in"cl'aim 8-,'i'n' 'which the contactsare arranged in different planesspaced lengthwise of theshaftl I.

10. A balancingapp-arat'us' as in'claim 8, having a hollow sleeve aboutthe shaft and rotatable axially therewith and with the cylinder, andmeans interposed between the shaft and sleeve to limit the amplitude ofvibration of the shaft.

11. A balancing apparatus as in claim 8, having a hollow sleeve aboutthe shaft and rotatable axially therewith and with the cylinder, thecontacts being arranged in longitudinally spaced relation to each otherlengthwise of the shaft and mounted on arms projectin radially from theshaft, normally spaced inwardly of the encircling sleeve.

12. A balancing apparatus as in claim 11, in which the sleeve isprovided with a plurality of contact rings spaced apart lengthwise ofthe shaft, each in the same plane with a shaft contact.

13. A balancing apparatus as in claim 11, in which the sleeve isprovided with a plurality of contact rings spaced apart lengthwise ofthe shaft, each in the same plane with a shaft contact, the contactrings being stationary for wiping engagement by one or more of the armsupported contacts on vibration of the shaft in response to a specificcondition of overweight in the cylinder.

14. In a balancing apparatus for a rotata le hollow cylinder, aplurality of hollow counterweight liquid material receiving elementsarranged angularly and peripherally about the cylinder so as todifferentially affect the balance thereof when said liquid isselectively applied thereto, an elongated shaft extending from one endof the cylinder and supporting said cylinder, the shaft rotatingconcentrically with the cylinder, individual liquid inlet controls foreach element, an elongated sleeve concentric with and encircling theshaft, a plurality of contact points angularly arranged about the shaft,a plurality of contacts on the sleeve, an electric circuit connectingthe shaft and the contacts thereon to one-side of a power line,,theother side of the, power'line connecting the inlet controls and thecontacts on the sleeve, the shaft being vibratable on' development ofunbalance in the rotatin cylinder to close the circuit between two orless shaft contacts and two or less sleeve contacts and two or lessinlet controls whereby to selectively apply counterweight material totwo or less elements opposite the point of overweight unbalance.

15. In a balancing apparatus for a rotatable hollow cylinder, :aplurality of hollow counterweight liquid material receiving elementsarranged angularly about the cylinder so as to differentially affect thebalance thereof when said-liquid is selectively applied thereto from anexternal source thereof, a shaft supporting the cylinder extending fromone end of the cylinder and rotatable axially therewith, a pick-updevice for detecting a state of unbalance on the rotating cylinder, saidpick-up being mounted on the shaft and com rising a similar plurality ofcams peripherally disposed about the shaft end andarranged angularly andlengthwise thereof, a bracket arm disposed in spaced parallel relationto the shaft normally out of engagement therewith, a similar pluralityof normally open micro switches arranged'on the arm lengthwise thereofin line with the shaft cams, a similar plurality of liquid flow control,each micro switch being electrically connected to a flow control,vibration of the shaft in response to the development of a condition ofunbalance in the rotatin cylinder causing engagement of a cam oppositethe point of unbalance with the micro switch in line therewith, closingof said switch 12 and actuationof the flow control to the liquidreceiving element opposite the point of unbalance. V

16. Balancing apparatus for a rotatable hollow cylinder for housingdiscrete articles to be treated, said apparatus comprising a pluralityof hollow counterweight liquid material receiving elements arranged toreceive counterbalance liquid from a source thereof, said elements beingangularly arranged about the periphery of the cylinder and extendinglengthwise thereof, differentially affecting the balance thereof whensaid liquid is selectively applied thereto, and a liquid container on anend of and rotating concentrically with the cylinder, said containerhaving a separate outlet therefrom to each of the peripherally spacedcounterweight receivin elements, liquid flow controlmeans between eachoutlet and an associated counterweight receiving element and an exitport for venting the counterweight material from each element andby-passing thesource thereof.

LEO M. KAHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

